Fake procurement notices have been repeatedly circulated in the name of U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) via non-USTDA emails, emails imitating USTDA email addresses, non-USTDA telephone numbers, non-USTDA physical addresses, and other means of communications from individuals alleging affiliation with USTDA. In some cases, correspondence falsely signed in the name of real USTDA officials has ensued, asking would-be bidders to submit proposals, and even ship goods and equipment.

USTDA is aware of various procurement-related schemes being circulated via e-mails, regular mail, or verbal communications, falsely stating that they are issued by, or associated with USTDA. The schemes involve communications (written and/or verbal), which appear as various proposals from people purporting to be officials of USTDA. The correspondence, other documents, e-mail addresses, and telephone calls may be made to look or sound like they originate from USTDA. For example, they may answer the telephone impersonating USTDA. Documents and email may contain official-looking forms, including the USTDA trademark or name, or some variation thereof, and e-mail or web site addresses, including the full name or acronym of USTDA.

These schemes may seek to extract goods, services, equipment, software, or gift cards. Such schemes are fraudulent.

Please be aware that:

  • Current contracting opportunities with USTDA are published on the Contract Opportunities website at beta.SAM.gov and/or solicited by individuals with valid USTDA email addresses (xxx.ustda.gov).
  • USTDA has an established shipping location, billing address 1101 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22209. If these do not match business opportunities that you have pursued with USTDA in the past, contact USTDA.
  • If the purchase request, or purchase order, or request for proposals does not appear correct, contact USTDA.
  • Unauthorized use of the USTDA name and trademark, impersonating a USTDA official, or other names or indicia, is illegal. Relevant authorities will be informed of any such activities of which USTDA becomes aware, for appropriate action to be taken by those authorities.

If you have any doubt about procurement-related information received from any source and purporting to originate from USTDA, please take the following steps:

  • Verify the authenticity of such information by contacting USTDA’s Office of Acquisition  Management at 703-875-4357.
  • Please take extra caution if you have not expressed interest in an upcoming USTDA procurement action and/or have not bid on any USTDA business opportunity in the past.
  • Disregard any communications related to USTDA procurement, originating from non-USTDA websites or non-USTDA email addresses. Be aware of email, web sites, or physical addresses that are similar, but not authentic USTDA addresses.
  • Report any suspicion of fraud to USTDA via email at security@ustda.gov and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) via their web site at www.ic3.gov.
  • Exercise extreme caution when dealing with any suspicious communication. Financial, equipment, software, and gift card loss could result from the processing requests from those issuing fraudulent correspondence.